Circleville, OH October 31, 2025 – Circleville City Schools is proud to announce the renaming of its varsity baseball and softball facilities in honor of beloved local coach and lifelong baseball enthusiast, Earl Dean.
Through a generous donation of $1.1 million from Everts High School Class of 1960 alumnus Mr. Terry Dean, the district’s varsity baseball and softball infields will be upgraded to turf playing surfaces. In addition, both facilities will undergo outfield improvements to enhance the experience for student-athletes and fans alike.
As part of this project, the varsity baseball field will officially become the Earl Dean Field of Dreams, while the Champions Complex—home to the Terry Anderson Varsity Softball Field, CHS tennis courts and football practice field*—will be renamed the Earl Dean Champions Complex.
For Terry Dean, this gift represents far more than new facilities—it’s a heartfelt tribute to his father, Earl, whose love of the game shaped not only his family but generations of young athletes in the Circleville community.
“All because of my dad,” Terry reflected. “He wouldn’t make you the best on the team—but he’d make sure you became the best player you could be.”
Earl Dean was known as a dedicated Little League coach, an avid Tiger fan, and a man who treated every player like his own. He gave rides, bought equipment, and made sure every kid had a chance to succeed. Terry recalls that his father “knew every player he ever coached and remembered them all.”
His coaching came with lessons, too—like the time he told his team, “If we’re playing for a championship, you better not catch me seeing you at the swimming pool—you can’t play your best with a sunburn!”
Earl’s love for baseball ran deep, he beamed while coaching his own sons on the field. Terry Dean told us he once lent his glove to a teammate who then ran off with it. This was a kind gesture for which his dad first scolded him, but then made sure he had a brand new glove to get back on the field!
Earl Dean worked at the Pickaway Power Plant where he was described as always reliable, never missing a day of work. Except for this one single time when, he called in ‘sick’ so he wouldn’t miss watching his boys play in the district finals. The team lost 1–0, but his presence there mattered more than the score.
“Dad believed in hard work, in showing up, and in making sure kids had opportunities,” Terry said. “That’s what this gift is about—creating the best possible experience for our athletes, just like he wanted for us.”
Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Halley states, “Circleville City Schools is incredibly grateful to Terry Dean for his generosity and his commitment to honoring a legacy built on love, mentorship, and community. The gift will enable Earl Dean’s influence to live on through the players he coached and the values he taught. The fields will carry his name for generations to come.”
Construction on the upgraded playing fields started in October 2025 and is slated to be completed for the 2026 Spring Athletic Season. Plans for a memorial installation and ribbon-cutting ceremony are currently underway and will take place following the completion of the field upgrades.